An: NymhadoraTonks: This is all very real. Everett got his wish and it changed everything. You'll learn more as we go. How things have changed just because Carlos didn't end up with Evie. We'll soon learn about the spell and where it came from.
Gaston's real last name is LeGume, so I just put it in for Gil. You have to remember that Everett really didn't like his life in the first place. Now, his imaginations had become real. He now has everything he thought he ever wanted. Now, he's starting to regret it. He's taken everything he had for granted, and now he's gonna learn to appreciate life and its gifts.
Jane is...well I wasn't surprised that you were shocked about Jane's character. But I went back to the first film and realized how much Jane was selfish and vain. Being vain and shy were like her only character traits in the first film, so I took it a step further. In this strange reality, she got into her own head and reverted back to those vain thoughts. Therefore, making her very mean to Charlotte when it comes to looks and appearance as a whole.
Your predictions are too good! Thank you so much!
Everett thought he had a plan, but over the last three days, he had just been trying to get used to his new life. It was much more different than he thought. Carlos seemed to be a stay-at-home dad. He would just lounge around the house, not doing hardly anything. Everett thought this was very strange considering that Jane was all about their family image.
Jane was a whole other subject. Evertt soon came to learn she wasn't home very much during the day. She helped her mom with many duties and helped coordinate certain events for the royal family. When she was home, she was often tired and short-tempered. Charlotte and Carlos seemed to get the most of it. Everett didn't know why.
"I don't think you should be hanging with kids younger than you," Jane expressed one night at their first family dinner. "It'll make people think you're childish." Everett thought this was very strange to hear. Charlotte was only ten but was dressed like she was an older teen.
"They're Jay's twins, Jane," Carlos defended. "Besides, shouldn't Charlotte have a say in who she should be friends with?"
"Of course," Jane agreed. "But I also think that she should think things through."
"I just like being with kids more like me," Charlotte admitted in a quiet voice.
"Don't tell me you've been hanging out with Maxwell too," Jane snapped her attention to Everett.
"No," Charlotte shook her head. A light pink color seemed to be rising on her cheeks, but Everett spoke before anyone could notice.
"What's wrong with Max?" Everett asked. Both Carlos and Charlotte looked at him sympathetically. Jane's wide eyes turned to Everett wildly.
"Maybe you didn't know, but he discovered that he had his own magic the other week."
"That's amazing," Everett said joyfully.
"No, it's not," Jane shook her head. "Remember Conroy, that magic is dark, and we don't need more of that in this country."
"But why? Lore—"
"Listen to your mother, son," Carlos cut him off. Everett met his pleading eyes and understood he should just stay quiet.
But when Everett was quiet, all he could see were memories of his real life. The family dinners were filled with laughter and joy. How could his father have settled for Jane? He was clearly unhappy. Jane was running their lives all for what they appeared to be. And she would use force to keep their image a happy and peaceful one. Evie would've never forced them to do anything they didn't want to.
At night, Everett would just stare at the rose glowing in his closest. Over the last three nights, not a single petal had fallen. Just the one that led him to the house. Everett was still unsure of what to do. The whispers would remind him of the spell, but he didn't know what it meant.
That was when the dreams came.
The first night, his dreams consisted of the beast with glowing pink eyes. The memory of that night six years ago presented itself to him again. The rose seemed familiar somehow. The legend of the rose beast was well known throughout the kingdom. Some say she had disappeared forever. Others had told him that she was still out there, and would come back in peace.
He recalled asking his parents about the legend of the Rose Beast. It was a few nights after the discovery of his own rose petal. Evie just glanced at Carlos, and then back to her son with a small smile. "You'll figure it out someday."
The second night, Everett dreamed of another memory, but it wasn't his own. His mother and father were much younger. They were just in a hallway together. Their voices were silent, but their mouths were moving. Then, they embraced suddenly. Holding onto each other tightly, Everett could see the blush on his mother's face before she leaned back and kissed Carlos's cheek.
He then saw Jane's face in an angered expression.
Last night, he dreamed of not memory. A single picture frame holding a portrait of an unknown castle lay before his view. A single rose petal fell from the sky and landed gracefully. A defining roar clashed with thunder as he once again saw the pink eyes of the beast. They blinked to reveal a woman's eye, except now they were an unfamiliar blue.
Rain began to pour, and a butterfly tried desperately to fly through it, but it was struggling.
Everett woke up in a sweat after that dream. His breath had quickened in his sleep, so he tried to catch it as he rubbed his eyes. His eyes flickered to his night table to see the butterfly charm laying there. Propped up beside it was the picture of himself and Lorelai under the stars. It was a constant reminder of what he once had, and it was what Everett was determined to find it again.
He pulled out his sketchbook and looked at the butterfly drawing. There was no use trying to complete it now. Alyssa was gone, and any chance he had with her was gone. He ran his fingers over the three butterflies he had completed. He grinned slightly as the memories in the butterfly garden played in his mind. Feeling lonely, Everett closed up the sketchbook and put it back in his bag.
Everett dressed quickly. He only gave himself a second to look at himself, but before he could step away from the mirror, he stopped. Everett leaned in closer to his reflection. He ran his thumb across his cheek as he gazes at the new freckle on his skin. It was no first spot or smudge, it was a real freckle. Everett never had any freckles before. He always had his mother's clear skin.
Things had changed, were still changing, and that made Everett even more eager to set his plan into action.
Over the last few days, Evertt had been going to tourney practice. He thought he would've enjoyed it. He had dreams of being on the field. But even after the first day of practice, Everett could feel he was misplaced. It felt as if the glass between his imaginations and his reality had been shattered, and he was drifting with the debris.
There were times of hope when Everett thought he knew what he was doing, but it never lasted long. He wasn't used to this. Girls cheering him on from the sidelines, coaches eager to get him playing, and fellow teammates respecting his opinion on plays. It didn't feel natural or even right to be out here. He thought he wanted it, but maybe he just wasn't cut out for it at all. He had tried to live out this fantasy, but he didn't know how much more he could take.
The only reason he went today was to see Lorelai. She had come to the last two practices by herself. She didn't sit with the other girls in the front row of the stands. Lori sat at the back, her knees brought up to her chest as she watched. Sometimes, Everett would even see her reading a book. He wondered why she was there, and what she was avoiding when she left as soon as the whistle blew.
The first day, he had waved at her, and she just looked around wondering if he was acknowledging her. On the second day, Everett tried to find her, but he was swarmed by the other girls. By the time he managed to avoid them, Lorelai was gone. Frustrated, Everett knew she couldn't avoid him forever. But now she was doing a pretty good job of it. Today, he had a new plan. One he was determined to make it work.
Ducking out of practice early, Everett avoided the girls and changed quickly in the locker room. He ran around the field behind the line of trees just as the whistle blew. Lorelai was just packing up her stuff when Everett got under the bleachers. When she hopped off, Everett pulled her by the arm. She resisted when she saw him, but Everett grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Everett told her suddenly. "I just couldn't find another way to get you to talk to me." She stopped squirming for a moment, then yanked herself free. She stood still.
"Why do you want to talk to me so bad?" Lorelai asked. "You've been acting so strange. On the field, and off. You've never said a word to me before now. None of you popular boys ever had. I don't know if this is some joke, but do you really think your pretty boy charm is going to work on me, Conroy? Cause guess—"
"My name is not Conroy," Everett cut her off. "I'm Everett, your best friend."
"You don't know me," Lorelai took a step back. She tucked a piece of her brown hair behind her ear.
"You're Lorelai Rose Beast," Everett grabbed her wrist again. "Your favorite color is blue, like the dark ocean. You read books twice so you can have every detail stored away. You have extraordinary hearing, and powers like your mom. And—"
"How do you know that?" Lorelai asked suddenly. Everett had done it. He proved that she is the same Lorelai he knew.
"Because I've known you for years," Everett explained. "I know this might sound crazy, but I also know you're the only person I can trust." She stared at him curiously. Everett took a deep breath. "I'm Everett Conroy De Vil. I'm not from this place. My real mother is Evie Queen. You are my best friend. I'm not popular, nor do I play tourney. I like to draw and collect plants to press. I was spelled here into this strange life. I was hoping you, as a sorceress, could help me get back."
Lorelai looked at him with wide eyes. He let go of her arm, hoping that she would run. She then whispered and shook her head, "You're insane." She tried to run, but Everett grabbed her again. This time, she turned back to him, her blue eyes glowing. They suddenly both shot back from each other. Everett laid against the bars of the bleachers, trying to regain some strength within him.
Lorelai picked herself off the ground weakly. "Oh no, oh no," she muttered to herself. She glanced once at Everett before she stared at her shaking hands.
"Lori," Everett said calmly as he got up onto his feet. Still shaking, Lorelai looked into his eyes. "Calm down. It's okay."
"No, no," she shook her head. "It's not okay. I-I j-just gave myself away. No one's supposed to know." She looked horrified. Everett hated seeing her like this. He remembered Jane's face when she talked about Max discovering his powers. They were branded as freaks here. The prejudice against the Isle-borns had gotten much worse. It made sense now, why Jane was critical of Charlotte's hair. They were not welcome to show their Isle side.
"I won't tell," Everett promised.
"How can I trust you?"
"You're just gonna have to believe me."
"I don't." Lorelai was backing away again.
"Wait," Everett's hands flew to his pockets. "I have proof." He pulled out the picture, sending the butterfly charm to the ground. He picked it up quickly and shoved it back in his pocket.
"Where did you get that?" Lorelai suddenly asked. Everett looked up from the picture, confused.
"What?"
"The thing in your pocket," Lorelai pointed to where the butterfly charm was. Everett slowly took out the charm. Taking stepped forward he held up the little key chain. Lorelai gasped. "Where did you get that?"
"Why does it matter?" Everett raised a brow. He didn't need to confuse her more by talking about Alyssa.
"Because—" Lori started to pat her shirt color. Then she pulled her necklace out for Everett to see. His jaw dropped when he saw it.
The exact same blue butterfly charm was strung around Lorelai's neck. Everett was shocked. He thought Alyssa had given it to him. It made sense after their small gathering in the garden that day before his birthday. Why would the real Lorelai give him this? He looked back up at the brown-haired girl. When he saw the confusion and slight fear in her eyes, Everett recalled the memory.
They were only in middle school when it happened. Everett was getting tease because of his hair. Lorelai stuck up for him, she always did. But this time things had gotten a little ugly. Everett doesn't remember which girl got in Lorelai's way, but all he remembered was the chain breaking away from Lorelai's neck. The chain fell to the ground.
"No!" Lorelai screamed. Magic bursts flashed through the courtyard, sending everyone into shock. That was one of the first times she had shown magic. Powerful and uncontrolled magic fueled by emotion.
The bullies ran away as soon as the stinging effect went away. Lorelai was shaking but, then suddenly began to look for her lost charm. Everett searched the grass for the charm. Lorelai found it first. Her eyes were filled with tears.
"Maybe we can fix it," Everett suggested.
"The second link to it is broke," Lorelai held it in her palm. "There's no use." She threw it back on the ground and ran away, crying.
Everett didn't go after her. Instead, the boy took the butterfly charm home with him. Charlotte had just gotten into her tinkering, so he went to his dad for help. He pulled colored beads onto a string and looped them onto a key ring that Carlos printed. She almost cried with joy at her party when he gave it to Lorelai as a surprise for her birthday not a week later.
He hadn't seen it since. Until now.
The present Everett suddenly felt very stupid. Not because of what he had done back then, but because of what he hadn't realized.
"Something," Lorelai repeated. She then grinned. "Or someone?"
"Maybe."
"A birthday gift perhaps?"
Lorelai thought the drawing was going to be her birthday gift.
"Perhaps a girl who's got a birthday coming up."
The dresses were designed for Lorelai, not Alyssa.
"Get your nose out of textbooks and sketchbooks and just take a look around you. You might find that feeling you're looking for."
"You'll figure it out eventually."
"You're lucky your girlfriend is here to protect you."
"Oh, my poison apple," Everett suddenly muttered when he realized the truth.
Lorelai was in love with him.
The real Lorelai. The girl that was his best friend for years had secretly been crushing on him. How couldn't he have seen it before? Memories flashed across his mind. Lorelai sitting with Everett at her birthday party for the first time. Every time she gave him a quick hug before she left his house. The jealousy in her tone when he mentioned Alyssa. And that night under the stars, when they stared into each other's eyes.
"What?" the new reality Lorelai called him back to the present. "Is something wrong?"
"Uh," Everett snapped back. "I was just thinking of why you still have it on a necklace."
"What happened to this one?" Lorelai raised a brow.
"Someone tore it from your neck," Everett recalled. "Then you lost control and shot magic everywhere. That's how you gained your reputation."
"Reputation?"
"You're feared among many people," Everett explained. "You liked it that way. You would always say 'in girl world, it's better to be feared'."
"I said that?" Lori gasped. "I wouldn't dream of saying such a thing. I've never been confident enough. I've never even used magic before."
"You haven't?'
Lorelai shook her head. "Only once. It was an accident. I've hidden it away ever since. That way I can at least try to stay alive."
This wasn't anything like Lorelai at all. She would never deny her power this way. "Stay alive? What do you mean? In my world, magic is celebrated."
"Here," Lorelai gestured around her, "There's only one kind of human. There is no 'acceptance' of Isle children. Magic is not allowed. My brother just discovered his last week, and my mom's been trying to teach him control before he loses it. He could be cast out of society forever. Could even be sent back to the Isle if he did anything bad enough."
"Is that why you hide? What happened to the barrier?"
"They were going to open it," Lorelai explained. "But Hades tried to escape. Uma has already been lost at sea for the last nineteen years. They closed the barrier while they still could, leaving only the original four and Dizzy Tremaine, who managed to get out before the law."
"It's illegal to be Isle?"
"No," Lorelai shook her head. "But it's better to pretend that you actually belong here. Or else you'll get hurt."
"I've been hurt in my world too," Everett added.
"Not as bad as this," Lorelai shook her head. "You might get some criticism there, but here it's life and death "There was something in her eyes that made Everett worry. "If I ever lose control of my emotions, I can do much more than what you just witnessed."
"Well, I know that," Everett recalled memories of Lorelai's real magic. She was out of control. Even Mal couldn't teach her back then. Her Aunt Rose came back for a summer to teach her. "Rose," Everett suddenly whispered.
"Rose?" Lorelai raised a brow.
"Your aunt," Everett's mind went spinning. "She was the one that taught you control. She can do it again, and then you can fix whatever spell I'm in."
"I don't know anyone named Rose besides my own middle name," Lorelai still looked utterly confused. "My mom doesn't have any sisters."
"She's not related to your mom," Everett shook his head. "She's Ben's sister. An Enchantress some call her."
"The only magical thing I've ever heard about was the Rose Beast. The legend tells of how a lost princess burnt her kingdom down, ran away from home, and turned into the wild beast that she was. Now, she roams the woods."
The Rose Beast. Was that what that creature was that night. It would make sense with the weeping woman who turned to bear. What if they were talking about the same person? Everett had heard that Rose was away on travels in his real life. Maybe she had never come back here. That she just ran away for good the first time instead of coming back and saving the kingdom from Audrey.
His parents had told him the story many times. Never about the Rose Beast legend specifically. But now, for some reason, Everett couldn't remember the original story right. The memories were somehow foggy. All he could recall was the castle from his dream, and the beast's eyes. "There was a fire," Everett said suddenly. "The old castle was burnt down by your aunt."
"The picture frame," Lorelai gasped as her eyes suddenly widened. She then grabbed his wrist and pulled him away from the bleachers. Everett resisted slightly. "Come on. I've got something to show you."
Everett shoved the picture and the butterfly charm back into his pocket before he followed her.
In the castle, Lorelai kept a firm grip on Everett's arm. "Where are we going?" Everett asked, but Lorelai kept him quiet. They went up to the third floor, where the most private rooms were. Lorelai's eyes twitched in every direction, taking in everything around her.
Before they could round a corner, Lorelai grabbed Everett and pushed him into some sort of closet. She stepped in before closing the door. They both looked down at the light coming from the door to see a set of feet walking past. Everett let out the breath he had been holding. Lorelai tucked a brown hair behind her ear before turning up to look at Everett.
Even in the darkness of the closet, Everett could see the ring of blue around her eyes. For a moment, Everett forgot about everything about this strange new reality. Her eyes were the same, at least. Lorelai still had pieces of herself that Everett was used to. Only now did Everett realize it wasn't just the color or the look of her eyes that were similar, but the feeling.
They were relaxed but also concerned mixed with a hint of anxiousness. But Everett found himself twining his fingers through hers. She had loosened her grip on his wrist just enough so he could connect their hands. Her breath reflected off of his cheek as she raised a brow. Suddenly, she pushed away from him and opened the door.
When the light showed again, Everett was brought back from his little daze. Lorelai wasn't the Lorelai he knew. Her dark hair and nervous posture were back. Her hand gripped his wrist again as they moved through the halls. Everett almost felt as if he were a child to her. One that she had to lead instead of trusting to follow.
Lorelai sneaked them into an office by using a gene lock. Everett looked around at the room. There were relics and old books. A sword hung above the desk in a glass case. "What's that?" he asked once Lorelai closed the door.
"The sword of Enchantment," she shrugged. "It's another legend. It's the most powerful sword or whatever."
"I feel like I've heard of it before," Everett muttered, tapping his chin. "What is this place, anyway?"
"My dad's study," Lorelai said as she began to look through the drawers.
Everett's jaw dropped. "The king's?"
"Yes, his majesty."
"We shouldn't be in here."
"Oh whatever," Lorelai slammed a drawer shut. Everett suddenly turned. She was acting like the real Lorelai. He gave her a small grin. She raised her brow. "What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing," Everett said quickly, averting his eyes.
"Come here," Lorelai waved him over with a small voice.
"What?" Everett's eyes snapped back up to her. Her arm was extended.
"Get over here so I can show you this," Lorelai clarified, using a familiar tone. Everett just stood closer to her, refusing to take her arm. She shyly took his hand and pressed them together on the framed picture of the old castle Everett had seen in his dream. THeir hands slowly began to fade away. Their bodies suddenly disappeared.
Everett watches the fog swirl until he found herself in the museum. Lorelai was next to him. Her eyes darted around to see all the security beams and cages weren't there like they usually are. In the middle of the room, a pink floating rose was glowing in the dark. Suddenly, the lights flipped on and the doors opened. Everett looked to see a young girl walking straight into the room. She still wore her torn blue dress, a bag over her shoulder.
It must've been Rose. She looked like the woman from that night in the woods. Only this one was much younger.
Rose stopped in the middle, where the pink rose still glowed. She reached out and grabbed the rose and brought it down to her. "As the one of least, let me unlock this beast!" the girl chanted loudly. The petals glowed even brighter. Then it wasn't glowing at all. The reddish-pink glow came from her eyes. Objects around began to levitate and spin around the room. Everett's eyes widened as he watched. The doors burst open once more.
A teenage Ben stood there. He was breathing heavily and looked panicked. He didn't look too much different than he does now, just taller and a few wrinkles. "Rose," he said in a friendly but urgent voice, "You need to stop this."
"What do you know!" Rose's fists were clenched, "You're their favorites, Ben! I don't even exist in their eyes."
"They know who you are Rose!" Ben yelled as the wind from the objects quickened. "You just have to realize that you're in this family! Come back with me! We can fix this!"
"I don't want this life!" Rose detested, "Or this family, and they don't want me!" She took something from her jacket and threw it at Ben. He dodged before reconnecting his eyes with his sister.
"I do," Ben said with a pained expression. His eyes were watering. "I want you to stay."
Rose's expression softened, but hardened again, "I don't." Ben's eyes widened as pink flames grew over Rose and she disappeared. The things stopped swirling around and crashed on the floor. Ben turned around, bent over, picked up something, and put it into his jacket.
The image of Ben had swirled into a blur. The two had been transported in front of the old castle. They both saw through the windows. The people in the ballroom were dancing and having fun. Everything seemed to be peaceful again. The crickets chirping in the cool night air. Everett looked up at the stars, but Lorelai kept her eyes on the castle.
Suddenly a ball of pink fire caught his eye. They watched it crash right into the castle. People inside the windows stopped as the building shook and roared with flames growing at the second. Screams echoed the no longer peaceful night. There were a few footsteps behind them. Everett looked back to see Ben watching in horror. Another fireball hit the castle. Everett only watched Ben's tears crawl down his cheek.
People were flooding out of the castle, all dressed in fine ball gowns and suits. Now they were covered with dirt and ripped. Belle and Beast were in the front of the crowd as they watched the Castle burn. Fairy Godmother rushed past Ben and the pair to fetch her wand and fix the mess. Everett followed Ben's eyes to look up and see a girl's silhouette against the flames. She was standing on top of one of the towers. Suddenly she disappeared.
Then everything went away.
They were back in the king's office. Everett pulled his hand off slowly. The memory was worse than he imagined, but he was expecting it at least. Lorelai, however, was starting to quicken her breathing. He looked back down at the frame in her hands. She was shaking. Everett watched her distant eyes begin to well with tears. "Lorelai?"
She suddenly dropped the frame.
"Lorelai!" Everett called to her. He placed a hand on her shaking shoulder. "What's wrong? Hadn't you seen this before? How did you know it was here?"
"I've s-seen the fire," Lorelai stuttered slightly. "But I've never seen h-her th-that close. The true fear in my father's eyes. I have a secret aunt that is a monster."
Everett wanted to pull her into a hug. Even if she was a little different, she was still Lorelai. But before he could even make a small advance, she grabbed his wrist and whisked him under the desk. She was still shaking as they squished together. Everett could see the frame under the chair. He tried to reach for it, to take it out of sight, but he stopped when he heard the click of the lock.
"I can't believe you forgot your keys to the bike," Mal's voice came from the door. There were footsteps coming towards the desk. Everett held his breath, and Lorelai held his hand.
"I know, I know," Ben chuckled. "Silly king."
There was a jingle atop the desk. The footsteps faded away and the door shut. Everett let out the breath he had been holding. He crawled out from under the desk, only to realize his and Lorelai's hands were still intertwined. She didn't move. Her eyes were still staring straight ahead, dazed. He got back down on one knee and leaned his head under the desk.
"Hey," he whispered. "I know it's a lot, but now it's my turn to show you something." Her blue eyes locked on his. Everett offered his other hand. She gave it a quick and hesitant glance before deciding to take it. "You going to be alright?" he asked her as he pulled her up from the desk. She wasn't shaking so violently now. She nodded, and Evertt kept hold of her hand as they left the castle.
